Quote Originally Posted by Riastrad View Post
You are somewhat correct. The region known as Ivalice no longer exists on Hydaelyn, but had existed as evidenced by the fact that the Orbonne Monastery resides in present day Golmore Jungle. Which means that the events happened in the history of XIV. We may no longer call it Ivalice, but we have been there and to the Necrohol of Mullonde (Tactics, Vagrant Story), as well as to Rabanastre (FFXII). Jenomis has in his employ a Dramaturge that will recount the tale of the Zodiac Brave Story. While he states the it may not have been actual history, we find out that he was wrong. It is and was always what happened, they are canon. The Ascians are the Zodiac Braves, just as we are. We know they are because we just picked up their memories kept with their stones etched with constellations.

The various games that take place in Ivalice have also taken place in XIV and that is fact. Seeing as how XIV is based on forgotten history and is very much inclined to use older titles to flesh out the stories as was the case with the Crystal Tower raid. This isn't a new story. It never will be a new story. This game is a love letter to fans who stuck with the series through the decades.


Sword in hand, a Warrior clutches stone to breast.
In sword etched he his fading memories.
In stone, his tempered skill.
By sword attested, by stone revealed.
Their tale can now be told.


You clutch the crystal of Azem to your breast and wish upon it with all your might...


So, Fandaniel/Hashmal acting the way he has been is nothing new. He literally wants Zenos to continue killing and creating discord just as his counterpart manipulated the events of the War of the Lions in Tactics. It is all part of a larger plan unseen by a fool who only wants blood and violence. Zenos is the perfect moron to fall for it.
The events of XII and Tactics didn't LITERALLY happen in XIV's world, only a version of them did. For example, XIV's psuedo-Tactics happened thousands of years in the past while Rabanastre is a modern city in Dalmasca, in the XII/Tactics timeline it's precisely the opposite. We don't know how Ultima and the others are related to the Ascians, if at all.